ESM Goh Chok Tong: People, Govt 'must stay united as family'

By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Sunday Times, 17 Aug 2014

Loosening ties between people and government could pull Singapore apart unless Singaporeans demand as much of themselves as they do of the Government, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong warned yesterday.

Unrealistic demands and frequent criticism of the Government are straining the cohesiveness of the Singapore family, he said.

"This state of relationship between the people and the Government is part of the so-called new normal," he said. "But if this new normal leads to fractiousness, divisiveness and estrangement in the Singapore family, then we will be undoing what the pioneer generation had painfully and diligently built over many decades."

He was addressing about 1,000 residents and volunteers from his Marine Parade constituency at a National Day dinner at Roland restaurant. Manpower Minister and Marine Parade GRC MP Tan Chuan-Jin was also present.

Mr Goh said a good bond between people and government was one of four "goods" crucial to a country's success. The others are good leaders, good governance and good social cohesion. These qualities paved the way for Singapore's survival, he said, but being man-made, they could also be "unmade by man".

Speaking at length on people-government ties in family terms, he said that just as parents do for their children, the Government imparts values and sets norms for society through its policies and creates opportunities for people.

People cannot choose their parents but they can choose their government - a privilege they do not always value and "sometimes decide with less care than we should".

Singaporeans also demand much more from the Government than their parents, accepting their family's situation but not the constraints faced by the Government.

And while they do not criticise their parents' imperfections, when it comes to the Government, they "see only warts... and freely criticise it for its slightest mistakes or when we disagree with it".

Mr Goh worried that people today are pulling in different directions, there is more navel-gazing, and the common space for all is shrinking instead of getting bigger. If this continues, he warned, there will be a high price to pay.

"That is how many countries fail. Across the world, intractable political gridlocks and a deficit of leadership have become the new normal. Countries lurch from crisis to crisis," he said.

To get through the challenges that lie ahead, the Government must prove itself worthy of its citizens by being compassionate, willing to listen and engage, yet also be firm enough to do what is right.

But the next generation of Singaporeans must also pass the "family test". "They must demand as much of themselves as they do of the Government," he said. "As a family, we must also pull together, accommodate and look out for each other, and trust one another."

Mr Goh said that he had no doubt Singapore would continue to succeed, provided Singaporeans stay together as a family.

Speaking to reporters at the event, Mr Goh also said that his Marine Parade residents are happy about the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), as they have long felt that they were "outside the planning" for a new MRT line.

Two MRT stations will make their debut in Marine Parade, which means that the estate "now is connected to all the lines in Singapore", he said.

Praising the design and planning of the line, he said that the acquisition of properties will be kept to a minimum, therefore those in Marine Parade will not be affected, although some residents in Mountbatten will have to make way.

A country fails when it becomes a squabbling family
TODAY, 19 Aug 2014

At the Marine Parade National Day dinner last Saturday, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong spoke of his concern that the bond between Singaporeans and the Government is being loosened. The former Prime Minister stressed the importance of good rapport between the people and the Government, adding that this was one of four factors that have made Singapore a success since it became independent 49 years ago.

Below is an excerpt of his speech, which he delivered in English and Mandarin.

As Singapore approaches 50 years next year, it is useful to reflect on a basic question: What makes a country rich and their people well-off? Is it geography, natural resources or the culture of the people?

Between 1955 and 1965, about 40 colonies became independent. Singapore was one of them. All had dreams of a brighter future. But many of those turned into nightmares. Some countries have broken up. Others were riven by internal strife. Many are still stuck in poverty.

So, to what do we owe success? How do we avoid failure?

From my observations, I am convinced that the critical factors are not geography, natural resources or culture. They are good leaders, good governance, good social cohesion and good bonding between people and government. I call them the four “goods”. These are man-made and therefore can be unmade by man.

In the interest of time, I will focus only on the fourth good — the bond between people and government. I worry that this bond is being loosened.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS AND PARENTS

With humility, I would like to make some comparisons between governing and parenting as there are important parallels. I take the approach that Singaporeans belong to one big Singapore Family. We should worry when family ties start to fray.

Parents are the most important people in the world. They feed, shelter and nurture us. We are blessed when our parents are caring, virtuous, wise and plan for our long-term interests. Our Government does the same: It protects us, creates jobs, builds homes, schools, hospitals and does much more. Parents teach us values. They have house rules. The Government, too, imparts values, sets norms and regulates and shapes behaviour through its laws, policies and programmes.

Parents encourage their children to fulfil their dreams, comfort them when they are down and give them freedom as they mature. The Government, too, creates opportunities for Singaporeans to chase their dreams, helps vulnerable and needy citizens and ensures democratic and personal freedom.

There are, of course, differences between parenting and governing. When parents grow old, they expect their children to look after them. But when Singaporeans grow old, they expect the Government to look after them!

We cannot choose our parents, but we can choose our government. If, through some fantasy, we are able to choose our parents, I am sure we will think carefully before we exercise this privilege. However, though it is a privilege to be able to elect our government and though our choice affects our future, we sometimes decide with less care than we should.

We demand much more from the Government than from our parents. The Government may have more resources than our parents, but these resources are not infinite, nor are they sufficient to meet all of society’s desires. We accept our family’s situation, but we do not accept the constraints faced by the Government. We forget how difficult it is for a small country to survive, let alone prosper. We forget that we are a little fish in an ocean of big fishes. We forget the need to balance different interests and make choices based on trade-offs.

We thank our parents for what they have done, their sacrifices and sleepless nights. By contrast, we hardly thank the Government for all the good it has done, even though much of that is right before our eyes.

We do not criticise our parents for their imperfections. We love them, warts and all. However, we see only warts in the Government and freely criticise it for its slightest mistakes or when we disagree with it.

THE NEW NORMAL AND CHALLENGES AHEAD

This state of relationship between the people and the Government is part of the so-called “new normal”. But if this new normal leads to fractiousness, divisiveness and estrangement in the Singapore Family, then we will be undoing what the pioneer generation had painfully and diligently built over many decades.

As a people, we always knew where we were heading. But we are now pulling in different directions.

We had always looked beyond our noses, but we are now navel-gazing.

We have always had different points of views. We discussed, debated, consulted. We built consensus and then went on to implement what best served the national interest. We still have different points of view. We still discuss and debate, consult and engage. But each group is now more assertive than before in pushing its point of view and vested interests. Each side does not want to give an inch without taking a quarter. The common space for Singaporeans is getting smaller instead of bigger.

There will be a high price to pay. A squabbling family cannot be happy. An estranged family is a miserable family. It is like that too for a country. This is how many countries fail. Across the world, intractable political gridlocks and a deficit of leadership have become the new normal. Countries lurch from crisis to crisis.

It will be a pity if this happens to Singapore. The Singapore Family will suffer. We have so much going for us. We need not stumble, and we must not stumble.

The Singapore Family will face known and unknown challenges in the coming years. Tensions in Asia are increasing. The Middle East remains unstable. Religious extremism is a threat. China’s rise will stress the fault lines with Japan and the United States. It is an uncertain world indeed.

Domestically, our economic growth will be slower. Employers are crying for workers. But Singaporeans are decrying the large presence of foreigners in the workforce. Economic restructuring will be necessary but painful.

PASSING THE FAMILY TEST

Now, I want to ask you: What kind of parents would you like to have? Well, you have no choice. But what kind of parents would you like to be? You certainly have a choice here. And you certainly can choose the kind of “parental” government you want as well.

I think it is fair to say that we would want a government that works hard to improve the lives of Singaporeans. We would want a warm and compassionate government. Our Government’s big-heartedness is showing through programmes such as Workfare, public housing, the Pioneer Generation Package, MediShield Life and subsidies to uplift the lives of many Singaporeans.

We want a government that listens. It must continue to engage Singaporeans, explain policies and accommodate diverse views. But we also want a government that is firm and does what it believes to be in the family’s interests. We want the Government to rally the people with a powerful, unifying vision of an inclusive, fair and prosperous society.

I cannot predict what kind of Singapore your children will grow up in or the kind of society you will grow old in. But this I know — we do have control over our future. Unlike many other countries, we have four solid, man-made assets to give us a comfortable, secure and bright future. These are the four “goods”: Good leaders, good government, good harmonious relationship between people of all races and segments of society and good rapport between the people and their Government.

The Government must pass the demanding parental test, which is to help the next generation succeed to the best of its capabilities. However, those in the next generation, too, must pass the family test in building on what they have inherited. They must demand as much of themselves as they do of the Government. As a family, we must also pull together, accommodate and look out for one another, and trust one another.

Singapore achieves most when there is good rapport between the people and the Government. If there is unity of purpose and solidarity of effort, the country will achieve great success.

I believe we will pass the parental and family tests, provided we stay together as a family. I have no doubt that Singapore will continue to succeed in the world of nations.